" Patience is the key because when the right time comes, it will be very beautiful and totally worth the wait."

- Unknown

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2nd platoon got to their new inhabitant, OP 2, a building right by the river, and Catherine only wanted to lay down. But Chuck insisted she drink something first before doing that. So, Catherine stood warily next to him and Liebgott as she awaited a drink. She yawned and shook her head as if to rid her from it. Once she did, she walked over to Malarkey and they worked through a few papers, their voices hushed.

" Hey, guys," a voice said, " this taken?"

" Go ahead." Ramirez said quietly. Catherine turned a bit and saw it was Webster and a new guy.

" Lieutenant, Sergeant, this is Lieutenant Jones." Webster said, " Just assigned to 2nd platoon."

" Malarkey, Platoon Sergeant."

" McCown, Lieutenant, I work with Intelligence."

" Congratulations on the battlefield commission." the Lieutenant said as Catherine's eyes widened. She heard Lieb and Chuck chuckle behind her.

" The what?" Malarkey said as Catherine looked to Webster. Had he believed it?

" They're making you an officer, no?" the Lieutenant asked. Webster looked back at the men snickering.

" Me, no." Malarkey said," You must be thinking of 1st Sergeant Lipton." Webster just shook his head.

" My mistake." the Lieutenant said.

" So, you're without a platoon leader?" the Lieutenant asked.

" No, not any more, Lieutenant." Malarkey answered as Catherine eyed him warily.

" Right." the Lieutenant answered as Catherine saw Webster walked up to the group sipping their drinks. It grew quiet as Malarkey organized a few things and Catherine looked at the table.

" So, do you wanna introduce me to the men?" he asked.

" Well, some are sleeping downstairs, and the rest are right here." Malarkey said and Jones looked around. The group getting drinks just looked at the Lieutenant as Liebgott raised his cup a bit. Jones nodded. Catherine stepped forward towards Webster and stood by his side by the window.

" Listen, I'm not mad at you, Web," Catherine told him, looking up at him. Webster watched her.

" They're just upset, rightfully so, Bastogne was rough on all of us," Catherine said with a nod, " We lost, a lot of people, and a lot of good men," Webster nodded, understanding what she meant.

" Just try and take it easy on some of the guys, it was rough out there for them." Catherine said, " Hazel got hit out there, she's been gone since early January. We just don't know when we'll get to see her again." Webster felt his heart drop into the pit of his chest.

" I didn't mean to make you upset." Webster said.

" I know, Web. If you ever need to talk, I'm here." she said and then stepped back with a nod and a small smile. Webster nodded as Catherine took her cup and went and leaned against Ramirez's bunk.

" Sergeant, a patrol's being planned for tonight, 0100 hours across the river." Catherine heard the Lieutenant tell Malarkey.

" Regiment wants POWs for interrogation."

" What's the situation?"

" Hey, Web." Liebgott said, walking over to the man by the window.

" What?" Webster asked.

" Come here." Lieb said putting a hand on his shoulder.

" I wanna talk to you for a second, come here." Lieb said.

" Why?" Webster protested.

" You want some coffee?"

" No." Webster said. Liebgott curiously watched him and leaned up against the bed post as Catherine quietly sipped her coffee from her cup.

" 15." Liebgott said to Jackson.

" 15 what?" Jackson asked him.

" Louie's since D-Day." Liebgott said. He was right; they'd gone through 15 Lieutenants at least. Catherine had seen all those Lieutenants move through; she remained one of the only constants.

" Is this kid out of high school yet?" Joe asked.

" He's out of West Point." Webster answered, and Catherine glanced back at him with a raised brow.

" West Point?" Liebgott asked, as Catherine raised a brow.

" Isn't that where Ike went?" Jackson wondered.

" Yeah, he actually graduated with his son." Webster answered.

" Shit." Jackson said.

" So, uh, what do you know about this patrol thing?" Liebgott turned to Webster, asking him in the dim light.

" Uh, nothing." Webster stated. Catherine raised a brow.

" Oh, come on, Web, you gotta know something." Ramirez stated, looking up at the man.

" I don't." Webster countered.

" Bullshit." Liebgott said, " You were there, right, at the CP?"

" This is a prisoner snatch, right?" Liebgott asked again.

" Hey, Chuck, listen to this." Babe said as Chuck moved by.

" Come on, Webster, spill it." Liebgott said, as Catherine sipped her drink quietly again, and McClung sat down next to Babe.

" Captain Speirs is to pick 15 men and a woman," Webster said and Catherine saw Liebgott's eyes shoot to hers, " Lieutenant Jones wants to be one of them."

" I say let the kid go." Liebgott said, " He could use the experience."

" Probably could find 14 replacements to help him out." commented Ramirez. Joe laughed.

" So, he got anyone?" Liebgott asked him.

" Not that I know of." Webster answered, and Catherine raised a brow again, in evident confusion.

" You said woman, Web," Catherine said looking at him, " I'm the only woman." Webster seemed to sigh and look away.

" Why are you holding out on me? I know you know." Lieb told him.

" Just give us the names, Web." Ramirez said.

" Who?" questioned Joe.

" There are three men, here in this room, that they think should be on the patrol." Webster said.

" Who?" Ramirez muttered.

" Well, if I tell you, you can't let on that you know." Webster said.

" Your secret's safe, Web. Who is it?" Joe asked. Webster looked at Babe who shook his head.

" Yeah, Heffron." Webster said.

" Ah, shit!" muttered Babe, as Hazel bit her lip worriedly.

" McClung. And you." Webster said looking at Ramirez.

" He also wants Catherine," Webster said looking toward her. Catherine merely sighed and sipped down the rest of her drink. What a surprise.

" He want any others from any other platoon?" Joe asked him.

" No, no, I don't know." Webster said, " Not that I know of."

" Look, that's all I know, I'm sorry." Webster said. In the back of Catherine's mind, she was thinking, there were still 11 other guys they were picking.

" Listen up, got some bad news!" Malarkey called, as he stepped forward toward them all.

" There is a patrol set for tonight." he said and Catherine just sipped her coffee again, only a few sips away from empty.

" And so far, Speirs wants McClung-"

" We know." McClung said.

" Yeah, we just fucking heard." Babe said, and Catherine looked at Malarkey with sad eyes.

" Webster here told us." Ramirez said as the phone rang suddenly.

" Easy white." Malarkey said as he picked it up. Catherine glanced towards the men, watching Joe stare at Webster who was organizing his bed the best he could.

" The PX rations just came in. Including, winter shoe packs." Malarkey said stepping forward.

" Oh thank god." muttered Catherine as Malarkey smiled softly at her. Her feet had been numb for so long.

" Beautiful, good of 'em, now that we're in a nice warm house." Liebgott muttered and Catherine sighed. Boy was the sarcasm thick.

" Also, we get showers." Malarkey said and Catherine's eyes widened. She hadn't had a shower in months. Since Mourmelon on their last day there. Suddenly an explosion echoed out in the distance.

" Alright, let's move!" Malarkey yelled, " Clear it out!" Catherine grabbed her weapon and helmet, and raced out just behind Babe, as the whistles of explosions propelled themselves closer to OP2.

" Incoming!" she heard Joe yelled as he pushed open the door to the basement. The minute Catherine got into the basement, she curled up in a corner, and pushed her hands over her head and squeezed her eyes shut. Only a bit of dust fell on them.

" Showers, let's go, come on." Malarkey called. Catherine headed out of the basement and into the outside, her weapon drawn as she stood by his side, as they waited for everyone else to arrive there.

A distant explosion went off and Catherine looked to the source.

" Somebody's been hit!" someone yelled. Catherine was already running towards the source as the rest of the group followed as well as many other men.

" Who is it?" someone called as the group approached.

" Bill Kiehn." someone said. Catherine slowly stepped closer to see Gene was already on it, filling out papers and pulling the dog tag from his neck. Alley was nearby, mumbling about how it happened. Then all the sudden, Speirs pushed through. He began telling people to do certain things, but Catherine's eyes were on Bill. Her heart saddened.

" Catherine," a voice said and she saw it was Chuck. She nodded and began to follow him away but glanced back again to look at Bill. Her heart saddened. Catherine walked by Chuck's side toward the showers, thinking about how quickly something like that can just happen. It was terrible.

When the group got to the showers and had laid their weapons down, Catherine's heart had sunk. She'd shower with the men. She didn't give a crap though, she wanted to be clean; she'd lived with them for over a year and a half now, who cared.

" 2nd platoon, on me." Malarkey called suddenly and the group looked up and slowly moved towards him. The group stood around Malarkey as Catherine shivered, anxiously awaiting some warm water.

" Alright, I'm leading this patrol," Malarkey said and Catherine looked at him with big sad eyes.

" CO wants Grant, Liebgott, Wynn, Jackson," Jackson walked away muttering to himself, " Shifty from 3rd platoon, and Webster."

" They want anyone from 1st?" Cobb asked.

" No." Malarkey answered.

" Is there anyone they don't want from 2nd?" Liebgott asked him, a bit sarcastically, " Jesus Christ."

" That list sounds like everybody to me." Malarkey said and walked away in defeat. Catherine sighed looking at the group. She'd been in 2nd platoon ever since she was placed there. They'd been through so many people, especially with Bill gone now. She wondered where him and Joe were.

" It's always 2nd platoon." Joe said and Chuck nodded," I swear to god if we were down to three guys they'd still want us for it."

" I can't believe they're gonna make Malarkey lead it." Chuck said. Catherine shook her head.

" Yeah, bullshit." she muttered, melodramatically.

" Christ, he only lost his five best friends. The fuck's he gotta live for." Babe said.

Catherine slowly pulled off her coat as she approached the entrance to the showers, and then stripped to her bra, and then she pulled her boots off and then her belt and then her pants. Her dog tags clanked together. Then she handed the guy with the old ODs, her stuff, as he stood wide eyed and she walked inside without a care in the world. Catherine was showering, not really caring at all, as she soaped up and washed off, and washed her hair. Dirt and blood fell from her body. She scrubbed at her hair and felt it become soft again. Her hair hadn't been washed in so long. Catherine put soap on her self and began washing off again. When she finally finished she ran out rather quickly, and wrapped herself in a towel in the small area where she could dress in fresh ODs. She pulled on fresh ODs as she shivered and grabbed her new winter shoe pack. Then she did a quick glance around and gratefully pulled pants on. She looped the belt through and had to pull it tighter than normal. B

ut she'd lost weight in Bastogne from not eating right. She then felt her dog tags clank together and quickly pulled on a shirt, a sweater and then her OD top and buttoned it up quickly and she felt so much warmer. She pulled on the wool socks and then pulled on her new boots, which was weird.

They were stiff like the rest of her ODs were. It was so weird because it was all so stiff from being new. She hadn't had new ODs in so long or even a shower that she forgot what it felt like. She tried her best at wringing out her long, soaking wet hair, but gave up and hastily braided up her hair with two elastics she always had on her wrist. When she tied them off she pulled on a wool cap and then stuck on her helmet. Then she walked out. Catherine walked over and grabbed her rifle, and watched as the other boys walked over, washed and cleaned in new ODs, with their hair dripping wet.

" I think I forgot what being clean was like," Chuck said as he picked up the rifle from next to where Catherine stood. Catherine laughed to herself.

" I heard there's chocolate with supply that came in." Joe said as he walked over to the group. Catherine's eyes widened as she looked at him.

" Chocolate?" she asked him. He nodded with a smirk upon his lips. Hazel would've wanted that chocolate.

" Lots of it." Joe said. Catherine hadn't had chocolate in what felt like such a long time. Her mouth watered at the sound of chocolate.

Lizzie had been off, after the shower to grab medical supplies from where George kept a stash usually in the company CP. After the talk with Gene, she felt better, he just had a way of calming her down that she appreciated. Lizzie was attempting to pull a box off the shelf but was struggling to say the least.

" Need help?" a voice asked and Lizzie turned to see George standing there, against the door post. She glared at him.

George and her were good friends, she'll give him that, but the asshole preferred to get a laugh out of her short height every once and a while.

" What do you think?" she asked him and George chuckled stepping forward.

" Not like you're much taller." she mumbled and she heard George laugh lightly as he pulled the box down into his arms and then carefully placed it in her arms.

" But I'm taller." he said as the two walked out of the storage room.

" Rubbish." she murmured and George cackled.

" Since when did you turn British?" George asked her. Lizzie chuckled softly shaking her head.

" Those chocolates?" she asked him, noticing the rather large box of sweets.

" You've guessed correctly." he said and pulled out one of the chocolate bars. Her eyes widened.

" Catch." he said and tossed it to her and she gladly took it in her hands.

" Really?"

" Hell yeah, you enjoy that." George said as he smirked at her. Lizzie grinned as she stowed it away in her pocket. She smiled.

" What can I say? I'm a miracle worker." George said.

" Yeah some miracle worker," muttered Johnny as he strode in with Cobb just behind him, " managed to laugh his way through the majority of training and is still here, some fucking miracle."

" Real funny, Johnny." George said shaking his head as Lizzie laughed.

" Chocolate?" Cobb asked, " The army growing soft?"

" Wow, Roy, thought you'd be happier to see something other than that slop they call food." George said a bit sarcastically. Roy made a face as George chuckled.

" Can you give us any?" Johnny asked.

" Can I give ya any? You nuts, Johnny, these are supplies." George said.

" Right and I'm an idiot." Cobb said and the group of 3 looked at him.

" Okay not the best analogy, but c'mon it's just one bar." Cobb said.

" Yeah, how about a bar, you got that?" Johnny asked, as George shook his head looking back down at the chocolate bars only slightly irritated.

" Goddammit, Johnny, you're breaking my heart, I'm telling you." George said as he looked down at the chocolates in front of him, as Lizzie slowly picked her way through her box.

" Come on, George, just give me, I don't know, 10, 15 bars." Johnny compromised.

" You know what, here you go," George said and reached into the box next to Lizzie's, " Juicy Fruit, happy?" Lizzie looked up and watched as Cobb laughed and Johnny watched George in surprise.

" We just got a report of movement." Vest said as he slammed a box down by her side.

" 1st Sergeant Lipton wants you to lay a few Bazooka rounds into a house across the river." Vest told George.

" You'd think we could get at least one Hershey bar from the-'

" Come on Luz, you're 1st platoon at heart." Coob called interrupting Johnny.

" Jesus, Cobb, there's not enough." Luz said, at the moment, Catherine, Liebgott, Webster and the new Lieutenant all walked in. Lieutenant Jones.

" Whoa, Herhsey bars!" Liebgott called as his eyes caught sight of the delicacy.

" Jesus Christ." Luz said.

" Wait your turn, Liebgott." Cobb hollered at him.

" Yeah, who are they for?" Liebgott asked, looking at them chocolates as Catherine stepped closer.

" The - not you Lieb." George hollered at him, as Catherine glanced towards him with a smirk. George was stressed, this was his little supply moment, not everyone else's. She gave a sympathetic smile.

" Oh, come on, George, one bar." Liebgott whined.

" No, there's not enough to go around." George exaggerated holding the Hershey's in his hand.

" Cap'n Speirs, here?" the Lieutenant asked him.

" Uh, down by the river, sir.." George told him and Jones nodded. Catherine watched the chocolate in front of her, Liebgott sitting down beside Catherine and setting up shop. She figured he was going to find a way to obtain at least one Hershey bar if not more. It was a very Liebgott thing to do.

" Hey, big mouth, give the kid a Hershey bar, huh?" a voice suddenly said, and everyone looked over to see it was Frank Perconte. Clean face, clean ODs, a slightly exhausted looking but happy smile, a happy smile that he was seeing his friends again.

" You gotta be shittin' me." George called, as the group smiled, seeing a member of Easy back with them.

" What's up, guys and of course ladies." he said as Lizzie and Catherine smiled at him brightly, as Johnny made a bee line for him.

" I like what you did with the place, George." Frank said as he gazed around the rather exploded room of the house.

" Yeah, yeah, yeah, I did good, huh?" George said as he gazed around the room as well as the group laughed.

" How you feeling?" George asked him.

" As long as you keep your hands off my ass I'll be fine." Perconte said and Catherine laughed.

" Have a Hershey." George called to Frank and threw a bar to the man.

" Hey, he gets a fuckin' Hershey bar?" Liebgott asked quickly, looking up from his seat against George's table.

" Well, he got shot in the ass." George told him dramatically. Catherine snickered.

" Did I tell you to stick your big ass out in the wind?" Martin asked Perconte with a slight laugh.

" Well no, but I expect a little sympathy from you." Perconte said, " Right?"

" Well should I rub it for you?" Martin asked a bit sarcastically.

" Get the fuck outta here."

" Hey, can you believe this guy?" Johnny called as the group looked at him, " Try to get him out of the fucking war, he comes straight back."

" Yeah, well, that's not what I heard." Perconte said as he stepped forward towards Lizzie who was looking at him with a confused, raised brow, " I heard the Krauts are finished."

" Yeah, well, just to make sure, we've gotta row across the fucking river tonight, grab a few and ask them in person." Liebgott said.

" Are you kidding me?" Perconte asked.

" Wish I was, welcome back, Frank." Joe said. Catherine blew out her cheeks.

" Yeah, oh, Jesus, that reminds me, Web." George said as he turned around and hauled up a wooden box, " I need you to run these to OP 2 for me. Grenade launchers for the night patrol, huh?" Webster was slow on placing his helmet on his head.

" Any day, now, Web, there you go." George said as Webster finally took the box.

" Hey, you know what, send these too." George said as he began throwing little boxes in the already filled back. Lizzie glanced inside it as Webster watched George throw little back after little box inside.

" Hey, hey, hey," Vest called, " did you hear what happened on D Company's patrol last night?"

" What?" Joe asked him.

" Replacement Lieutenant blew his foot off. Stepped on a shoe mine." Vest said as Hazel glanced at him. Jesus.

" Fresh in from West Point." Vest stated, " Had to come back empty handed."

" No shit," George said looking at him as he placed a cigarette on his lip, " maybe he's a friend of yours, Lieutenant." Jones glanced at George.

" Hey, Vest, what you got in there?" Cobb started, " More Hershey bars and Lucky Strikes, for your rear-echelon fucks to hoard, huh?"

" Hey, 'ey, 'ey, Cobb, with the mouth, please. The kid's just trying to do his job, alright? You got 2 ladies in the room as well, Jesus Christ." George said as Lizzie smiled softly.

" You know what, to hell with it." George said throwing everything he's counted down to the ground, as Vest cursed.

" Count 'em up Vest, I gotta go blast this house." George said as he picked up his weapon. Clara had to cackle to herself.

" You happy now?" Vest asked Cobb sarcastically.

" You coming, Perco?" George asked as he stepped past him, " Make yourself useful, watch this shit for me, alright. Web, you're coming with me?" Webster struggled to hold the box as he turned around to follow after George.

" Sergeant, is Captain Speirs gonna be where you're headed?" Jones asked him.

" Hey, Vest, one bar it's all I need." Liebgott said trying to convince the man who shook his head.

" Uh, same vicinity, yeah." George answered.

" Alright, then I'll join you."

" Where are we going?' Webster asked as he stepped up next to them.

" To the house I gotta blast." George said exhaustedly.

" Is Captain Winters gonna be with him?" Vest called out.

" Jesus, look, I don't know, maybe." George said.

" Then I'm coming too." Vest said as he pushed past the group as the men moved in on the free chocolates.

" Alright, come on, guys, please." Perconte said as he tried to push back the guys who began picking stuff out of the box. Catherine and Lizzie looked at each other and then quickly moved out of the door into the blistering cold, their helmets secured tightly on their heads.

" I would've thought Hazel would've been with him," Lizzie whispered softly, looking up towards Catherine with sad eyes. Catherine let a sad smile past her lips.

" Me too," Catherine admitted, " I miss her."

" Miss who?" a voice asked and both Lizzie and Catherine froze.

Catherine met Lizzie's eyes and then the two women looked over their shoulders to see in fact Hazel Parker walking right towards him.

There was a smile, a beautiful smile on her face, one that spread across her lips, making her dimples appear, one in each cheek.

And her eyes, her eyes were bright, and beaming, the blue a deep and gentle calm, like the ocean, and the helmet, mildly big lay lopsided on her head.

And her hair was pulled back into a low bun, with some strands around her face, brushing against her pale cheeks.

And she was glowing, she really was, even in the middle of this nightmare, she was glowing like the sun.

She had a slight limp, but her steps were light and almost immediately Catherine felt hit with wanted warmth and care.

It was really Hazel.

It was Hazel Parker.

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AHHHHH!! she is BACK ladies and gentlemen!! and i am so so happy to bring her back in this moment because everyone is especially having a rough time and so to have hazel back, it just, makes my heart warm, i've missed her with these two and especially the rest of the group :) it's good to be back with her!! thank you!! i know i kinda ended it there, but tomorrow's updates will be completely worth it!! get ready :)